DLA and school report

hi all, does anyone know how heavily DLA decision makers rely on school reports when making a decision? I have applied for DLA for my 5yr old who is currently under assessment for possible adhd/hyperactivity. His behaviour at home is out of control, he is violent, verbally abusive, wets and messes himself etc. but is well behaved at school. His teacher came up to me the other day and said she has been asked by DLA to send a report, but that as he was good at school that it wouldnt be of any help to my case and so the report wouldnot mention any bad things. She has only been teaching him since Sept anyway. Does this mean we'll just get turned down on the basis of what she says?

Hi,
I have met alot of families who have had thier DLA application turned down or the rate they used to recieve lowered because of the school report. The school report only takes into account the childs behaviour in that setting - My advice would be to speak to a benefits specialist asap, the school report may well hinder/delay your child's entitlement to DLA.

Contact a family have benefit specialist you can speak to in confidence - they'll support/advice you with anything to do with DLA - call them on 0808 808 3555.

dla will look at the care needed for the 24 hours, list everything, including toilet acidents, how may times you have to get up in the night,does child still need bed pants,help getting washed and dressed, care outside near traffic, would he have wobbler and run off, does he have road sense,you have to prove he isnt as able as other children of same age,maybe have a look at nas website at the claiming dla section may help you
good luck
jeanc

Hi..I am in a similar situation with my son..he is fine in school but everywhere else he isnt..I applied for dla a few months back and got refused,,they didnt tell me who they got a report off..am now in the process of appealing through a solicitor..As we have have seen Camhs in the past,Paeditricians recently and now have a Support worker to help me deal with his behaviour,I was quite shocked he got refused!..as other than school he does need 24 hour care at home..It is difficult to get dla,I know of people who are physicially disabled (down syndrome etc)and still got refused first time! It is ridiculous!..Good luck in getting it,as I know how difficult it can be..I wasnt going to apply until my son started smashing up everything in the house etc,It will also help with the taxis I have to get to and from school when he refuses to walk x

I often get asked to fill in the school part of the form. DLA ask very specific, factual questions relating to what you have said about your child (different to another child)and there is no room for comment or opinion - I find that this can limit our ability to communicate a child's real needs.

I do know that the DLA say that if a childs behaviour can be controlled in a 'controlled' environment, then yes, this may have an effect on your claim(see below) What they are basically saying is that with the right treatment and control, the child CAN behave in an acceptable manner.

It is well known that children with ASD, try SO hard to cope and hold all their emotions in whilst at school.....and then fully release them when they get home.

It also makes a difference whether you are claiming for care or mobility. If you are applying for care, you may get low or mid rate, and if your child needs care during the night (for longer than 20 mins total) or when the household has closed down for the evening (if they go to bed excessively late) then you should be able to claim for higher rate care.If your child is well behaved at school then they would not be entitled to HR mobility as the behaviour has to be extreme and they would need full time supervision to intervene if necessary.

Hi..I am in a similar situation with my son..he is fine in school but everywhere else he isnt..I applied for dla a few months back and got refused,,they didnt tell me who they got a report off..am now in the process of appealing through a solicitor..As we have have seen Camhs in the past,Paeditricians recently and now have a Support worker to help me deal with his behaviour,I was quite shocked he got refused!..as other than school he does need 24 hour care at home..It is difficult to get dla,I know of people who are physicially disabled (down syndrome etc)and still got refused first time! It is ridiculous!..Good luck in getting it,as I know how difficult it can be..I wasnt going to apply until my son started smashing up everything in the house etc,It will also help with the taxis I have to get to and from school when he refuses to walk x

Hi ya, just thought that I would let you know that you can ask for a Vineland adaptive behaviour test and a WISC IV test (I'm sure you have one already)done for your child. They compare the two and they can see exactly what adaptive behaviours your child needs help with or they can show where the maladaptive behaviours lie. This is a good bit of evidence for the DLA. xx

dla app+school report

hi my son has an established diagnosis of adhd and is on medication and i believe the dwp rely heavily on the school report for dla, twice i have applied for dla for my son and twice he was refused and every reason was down to what the school had said.

hi my son has an established diagnosis of adhd and is on medication and i believe the dwp rely heavily on the school report for dla, twice i have applied for dla for my son and twice he was refused and every reason was down to what the school had said.

Hi,
speak to a benefits specialist, they will usually take your case to tribunal if needed - our helpline may be able to find some contacts for you where you live - 0808 808 3555. we have benefit specialist who can help you as well.

hi my son has an established diagnosis of adhd and is on medication and i believe the dwp rely heavily on the school report for dla, twice i have applied for dla for my son and twice he was refused and every reason was down to what the school had said.

Wow really!..I'm not sure who they asked for a report of my son,but if it was the school..I'm definately not going to get it for him,as he's fine in school! Doesn't mean to say my son is fine though..Not fair at all been as we go through alot with him,I feel very let down by the NHS at the moment.

Hi ya, just thought that I would let you know that you can ask for a Vineland adaptive behaviour test and a WISC IV test (I'm sure you have one already)done for your child. They compare the two and they can see exactly what adaptive behaviours your child needs help with or they can show where the maladaptive behaviours lie. This is a good bit of evidence for the DLA. xx

Hi..Do you know where and how I would get one done please?..My sons support worker made me fill out a questionaire about him to input in her pc to see what areas we need to focus on..like a traffic light test she said?Do you think its that?..thanks

Hi..Do you know where and how I would get one done please?..My sons support worker made me fill out a questionaire about him to input in her pc to see what areas we need to focus on..like a traffic light test she said?Do you think its that?..thanks

Hi ya,
yes ask your child's paed, or CAMHS psychologist....well any psychologist your son is under and they should be more than happy to help. To be honest, I do not understand why the Vineland is not mandatory.

It is a form you fill out yourself, and the school have input too. If your child is on meds at school then obviously the results will be different.

Oh I meant to say that was the vineland I was talking about. The WISC IV is the intelligence quotient scoring. Th thing is, even if a child does have a normal or above average IQ, it is not a full representation on how the child uses that intelligence in everyday life. Thats the important part.

QUESTIONS THAT ARE SENT TO SCHOOL FROM DLA

Hi All,
Below are the questions that are sent to your child s school when you apply for DLA. The best course of action would be to tell the school BEFORE you send in your DLA application form -that you have applied and ask them to meet with you BEFORE they attempt to fill in the form when they recieve it.
Now that you know what they are asked to fill in - you have a better idea of what to "advise" them to put on their answers. Hope this helps!

I hope that posting here has helped just a little. The school can only report on the the things that they experience so is there anyone else who could provide a statement that would support your observations alongside the report from school?

DLA the Future

Whether we like it or not the current level of welfare benefits paid in the UK at 200 billion is not sustainable,each one of us will have to face the reality that we will have to do more for ourselves.yes,you shout but i am entitled to the DLA?. But no none of us are,about 6 months ago the times had an article which stated that within 5 years,the NHS and the welfare system will be completely different.

Lets look at the future the whole of the western world faces an impact from the new developing countries on every aspect of our lives,your main concern as parents should be the education of your children,without a university degree or a vocational degree your children will end up like one third of americans are now unemployable.

Whether we like it or not the current level of welfare benefits paid in the UK at 200 billion is not sustainable,each one of us will have to face the reality that we will have to do more for ourselves.yes,you shout but i am entitled to the DLA?. But no none of us are,about 6 months ago the times had an article which stated that within 5 years,the NHS and the welfare system will be completely different.
Lets look at the future the whole of the western world faces an impact from the new developing countries on every aspect of our lives,your main concern as parents should be the education of your children,without a university degree or a vocational degree your children will end up like one third of americans are now unemployable.

Hi Graeme
Welcome to Netmums
Thank you for your insightful post on the future of the Welfare state
Unless you actually have a Child with a disability, I doubt you realise just how unlikely it is that they will be able to go to University and have a Professional career as other Children might
DLA is an important aid to getting the right care for a Child that needs it and they are absolutely entitled to it at the present time
Whilst the system is changing for adults now with PIP and will more than likely go the same way for Children in years to come, this site is a support board for Parents experiencing problems now and not your political soap box!!!
We are about support and advise not lectures Thank you
Fran

Thank you for your post. It is interesting that you mention the importance of education. Many of the parents posting here spend endless hours fighting for their children to have an education which is suitable, sustainable and well resourced. Alongside this they spend time chasing therapy services, challenging medical/ therapy decisions, supporting and working with their children. They do this because they are parents not because anyone forces them too and for many DLA is the only way they can afford the things that their children need.

Many of our children will need help in the future. The most vulnerable in our society should have a right to support and protection.

My son has just been awarded DLA and I think it was only a report from his school that they used. I know they had contacted his school as the head teached approached me and told me. My son had only been at the school 5 weeks.

I gawd so worried

My son has only been at his school for a month before we broke up for summer hols!
My son regularly gets sent out of class for talking and miss behaving! He also got told off for throwing stones in the playground! He struggles with school work! Please help is there anything else I can put in the form to help his case! I have to constantly supervise him in our home and even more so outside!
My son is 8 and paediatrician said he believes Leon is adhd with autistic traits!